Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-11-20

placed at what WAS believed to be q
maximum and resulted in an aggre.
gate gross revenue Of S., 1000. From
the fact that no salaries are yet fixed
and that other expenses are compare.
lively unknown, the edisbursemel ats are
equally unreliable. The sum total OF
these was first given at S4.770.OO but as
two items-street lighting and board
of prisoners and court expenses-were
found to be very much under-ssti-
mated; q revision in regard 10 these
brought the total up to s., $4,000, OF
1870. 90 more than the gross revenues
provided every dollar is collected; and
this allows nothing for the unknown
and unexpected 'incidentals" that
can never be estimated but which in
vsriably make respectable showing
In the final balance sheet. This state
ment was submitted TO the delegation
aud admitted by them to be in the
main fair estimate Of the probable
cost Of running the city for the first
year, but although no specific item
could be named that could be cut
down to yield in the aggregate re.
duction Of more than $500 or $500, the
delegation still urged that the munich.
pality should be run for much less,
fixing the figure at $500. The coun-
Gil were manifestly placed in an IN.
pleasant position. With every desire
TO act ia accordance with the wishes OF
the people they could not but see thst
reduction Of the tax levy to two mile
or even three, would virtually defeat
the principal benefits sought TO be
gained by incorporation and leave the
people in the old rut, which by an ~
most unanimous vote in September
Last they asked to be taken from. Had
the delegation either prepared and
presented t. the council schedule OF
expenditures which they deemed fair
and necessary, or had they taken the
schedule that was before them and in
dicsted their ideas specifically as to
each item, there would have bee n
something tangible 10 act upon, but
their failure to do the one and then
apparent inability TO do the other
could not but be accepted by the coun
oil as = quasi endorsement Of theil
action, or at least failure to make .
case against it.
As to the tax levy, it may or may
not be technically illegal; tha
is a question for the courts to decide
and in making the levy the council
have simply done what they deemed
to. be their duty. The people wante,
incorporation, and when they voted 81
unanimously for it they certainly di,
not expect TO enjoy its many sdvan
tages without paying for it. Granting
this it certainly does not look very
public spirited for any portion of th,
community to buck at paying what II
deemed by the council to be necesssr,
expenses. The levy Is four mills anc
the delegation last night stated thai
the taxpayers they represented woulC
be satisfied If 1t was made three mills
The difference to each individual l
but one dollar on every thousand dol
lars of taxable property he Is sssesse,
for, but to the city 1t means . reduC
ton of nearly one thousand dollars Il
its revenue and consequent cril
pling of the administration In its Dc
sire TO furnish the citizens such inca
culable benefits rs police protection
the suppression of nuisances, the i'm
provement Of sanitary conditions, th
preservation Of good order, the i'm
provement of our streets and side
walks, the lighting Of the city an,
protection from damage IN time Of ic
freshets. These are burdens that W,
have long suffered from and conf
dently felt that Incorporation woul'
dissolve; and the council acting uDde
these impressions have fairly aud hon
estly done their best 10 bring about
realization Of these hopes. To be me
at the outset by an expressed oppos
ton is not encouraging either to tber
or to those Of our citizens who are viii
ing to trust to their wisdom and judi
ment. II the city is to have govern
mept, there are certain fixed charge
and Incidental expenditures-be the
more or less-that have got TO be me
and II the council believe that the fou
mill levy and the license receipts wi
not be more than enough for this pu
nose, the people should gracefully ~
quiesce and let one measure pass viii
out falling afoul OF the splits that ou
town has 80 long been cursed with.
The Labor Party In Missouri
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